INDIANAPOLIS – The 2024-25 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Wrestling season came to a close last weekend with three student-athletes winning individual titles and nine earning All-America honors at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The GLVC was well represented at the national event, led by the Maryville duo of Cole Ritter (174) and Ryan Herman (285), as well as Indianapolis' Derek Blubaugh (197) taking the individual crown in their respective weight classes.
Maryville's Cole Ritter took down the number 4, 8, and 6th ranked wrestlers on his way to a National title while Ryan Herman defeated the 7, 6, and 5th ranked wrestlers.
McKendree featured the most wrestlers to reach All-America status out of league institutions, with Cory Peterson (165, 5th), Ronan Schuelke (141, 7th), Joey Semerad (149, 7th) and Matt Ortiz (174, 5th).
UIndy followed with two All-Americans, as Jackson Hoover (149, 5th) reached a top 8 spot along with Blubaugh. Lawson Losee (174, 6th) represented Upper Iowa well on the national stage.
Maryville was the Conference's top team finisher, placing ninth last weekend, with UIndy following in 11th. McKendree (14th), Upper Iowa (30th), and Quincy (40th) each got points on the board, as well.